What I Would Do if I Joined Vocal Today

I'd do things a bit different if I joined Vocal today instead of February 2021.

For one thing; the platform itself has changed quite a lot. Acting on input from its writer/creators many enhancements to the reporting, pay structure, engagement, and even ownership possibilities are now in place. (Yes- I am aware that not every change has been greeted with approval. This is not that: I am focusing on what I would do differently today.)

Here are the three things I would do differently if I joined Vocal today.

Research

Then: When I started there certainly were reference articles available to new users. I did glance through them, but several seemed to contradict each other and I wasn't sure what was accurate.

TODAY: If I joined today I would make my way through the Creator 101 resource tab. (And, yes; I did write/re-write these resources.) They now take a writer/creator step by step through the process of signing up, connecting to Stripe for payment, making their first post, tracking their reach, using prompts, FAQs, and more. And, because they are written by a person paying to use the platform, I can respond to questions and make updates to keep them current.

Note to self- need to updated the self-identified AI and the new Homepage enhancements that rolled out this week.

Vocal+

Then: I joined as a free member. I was hesitant about paying for something that was unknown, even if I could pay a month at a time.

TODAY: I would join as a Vocal+ member right away. Sure, the benefit of a increased pay per read and a lower Wallet balance needed to request a payout is nice... but for me it's all about the Quick Edit function that Vocal+ member have. (Non-Vocal+ members need to contact Vocal support to return the content to DRAFTS, where they can be edited and re-submitted.)

I use Quick Edit ALL THE TIME. Not just to correct mistakes, but to add links to existing content like the Guide that I wrote over several chapters:

Quick Edit allowed me to link to new chapters as they became available.

I also use it for my Index of Top Stories, which I keep pinned to the top of my Vocal profile page. I can add them when and if my content is recognized as a Top Story.

Interaction and Engagement

Back in the day (3 years ago!) the only engagement a post could get was a 'heart' and a tip. To interact: I used Facebook and went so far as to create a Facebook group to do so.

There was no:

Then: I relied on the Facebook group to collaborate on stories, to gain both reads and encouragement, and to establish meaningful relationships with my fellow Vocal writer/creators.

TODAY: I use many of the enhancements to follow writers, leave comments, gauge the response to my content, and hopefully give at least as much of the encouragement that I receive. I probably would not have seen the need for or made the Facebook group.

Sure: sometimes things like Creator Chat and Raise Your Voice seems to skip a week now and then (none this week {shrug}) but by and large Vocal has worked with the feedback they receive to enhance the user experience for both writer/creators and readers.

The Discord has been valuable to ask questions, share stories, and report issues. It also is a fabulous way to coordinate collaborative story, which I detailed here:

Conclusion

My Vocal journey is just that: a journey. Like most journeys the scenery is constantly changing and filled with unexpected surprises. The platform today is quite different than the one I joined in 2021, and I think it is for the better.

No Matter when or why YOU began interacting on the Vocal platform I encourage you to remain engaged, share your comments (you can start with this piece and leave a comment below!), and stretch out of your comfort zone by entering the official and unofficial Challenges.

ProTip: The hyperlinks take you to resources on the Vocal platform. Explore when you get the time. Please let me know which updates have meant the most to you on your Vocal journey!